Sunday, November 2, 2014

P.T.

Yeah, it's the time of year for a spooky, scary Halloween update. And what better way to celebrate All Hallow's Eve than with the truly terrifying experience of reading someone else's description of one of the most terrifying games of all time, the Silent Hills playable teaser? Now, there's not much to say about this little teaser-game; it begins when you wake up in a grey, empty room and walk through a door into a hallway. You walk down this hallway, cluttered with pictures on both sides, and turn right into a smaller hallway ending in an entry-room. After listening to a radio report describing a man brutally murdering his family, which sounds like a great start to a great experience, you walk through another door, down a set of stair, and through yet another door into the same hallway. The whole game is just the same hallway, right turn, entry-room, and staircase over and over again, each time different and more terrifying. But it's done in such a way that you can tell, the whole way through, that it leads to something big. Which you don't really get unless you get the collectibles after you finish, but that's easy and definitely worth it.

Of course, there are a ton of creepy easter eggs and hidden messages. And because of the setting, you never feel safe; you're always on edge and there are definitely jump-scares. Check this beauty out:

Thanks, dicks.

You turn the corner at one point and just see this. Please imagine playing this in pitch-darkness like I did and seeing this. I refused to play; my friend actually had to take the controller and walk forward. And of course, the state-of-the-art graphics just add to the suicidal terror this game brings. As does the music. And lighting. And literally everything else, including the disturbing fetus monster in the sink. Scratch that, especially the disturbing fetus monster in the sink. So, I'll say this: it's pretty much the best you can do for a twenty-five minute game. Of course, it couldn't be a full-length horror game like Outlast, but that's not what it's going for; it's just a playable trailer, and a damn good one at that. And if you want some quotes, creators of P.T., here are answers that my friend and I actually gave when I said, "So, any comments on the game?" aloud.

Jonathan: "I thought that was pretty damn scary. Especially considering its length, I really enjoyed that game. It definitely serves its purpose of getting me psyched for Silent Hills.

Jonathan's Friend: "Dude, shut up. I can't believe you made me play that fucking game. I'm getting out of this room."

Conclusion: Spooky. Scary. Short and Sweet. All four S's. You can't go wrong.

But seriously, it's a great game to play with a friend.

P.S. When the radio says, "Don't touch that dial now... we're just getting started," get scared.